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Thank you to everyone that participated in the work sessions late spring. Here is a summary report of the work sessions and next steps - REN Summary & Next Steps. Your input and engagement has been critical to shaping these next steps, and we welcome your input, thoughts and ideas on these ideas.

As a result of transition discussions occurring in April and May of 2014 with over 50 community, advocacy, government and philanthropic representatives, and building on the input and feedback of over 400 community, government and philanthropic participants at the first ever Regional Equity Summit in November 2013, the Puget Sound Equity Network defined a bold end game and role for its future:

to change the face of prosperity in the Puget Sound region through racial equity in leadership, power and decision making;

to continue pursuing that vision regionally from multiple sectors, acting as a hub and convener of partners around a cross-regional/-issue effort with a common agenda;

to build on the progress made around the original focus on transit oriented communities;

to broaden the focus to include other issues raised during the 2013 Equity Summit like education, healthcare, and jobs;

to model its commitment of bringing the voice of those impacted to define and shape decisions and system change through its own structure and way of operating, as well as its work;

and to capitalize on the assets of communities and help connect and build relationships within and between Network members, communities and systems/institutions in mutual learning in order to create an equitable landscape.

As a passionate advocate for equity, you’re invited to an important two-part conversation:

Defining the future of theEQUITY NETWORK
April 7th and May 1st
Hosted by the Puget Sound Regional Equity Network

Do we agree on the vision & mission for the Equity Network?

What do we want to achieve in the short and longer term?
What kind of strategies will it take to achieve those goals?
What role should the Equity Network play?
What opportunities should the Equity Network pursue?
Who else needs to be part of the Equity Network?
What structure & resources are needed to achieve collective impact?

Coffee and lunch will be provided.
The New Holly Gathering Hall has ample parking and is accessible by public transit.
To save your place and/or ask any questions about this event, please contact Wendy Watanabe, wendywatanabe@comcast.net or McCaela Daffern of Impact Capital, (206)658-2604 or mccaela@impactcapital.org.

Thirteen community-based organizations received grants through an additional funding round of the Equity Grant Program, made possible by an extension of the HUD regional planning grant that has supported the Growing Transit Communities Partnership. This was a one-time funding opportunity focusing on providing some resources to community-based organizations to identify next steps to advance community priorities.

Capitol Hill Champion

Eastside Community Network

El Centro de la Raza

Eritrean Association Community Center

FEEST

Global to Local

Got Green

HomeSight, on behalf of Vietnamese Friendship Association, East African Community Services, Somali Community Services of Seattle

Interested in participating more in the Summit but unsure about how? Here are some options for ways to go beyond attendance…

Organize community members to participate in the Summit. We are asking folks to register by Fri 10/25 to ensure we can accommodate childcare and interpretation needs. Getting more of your community involved is a great way to spark new conversations and ensure more voices are heard on these important issues!Participate in the Marketplace on Friday night! We envision the Marketplace as a place to facilitate networking, meet and interact with others from our region engaged in equity work and to exchange ideas or promote campaigns. You can host a table to feature posters or displays on issues of equity you have worked on–perhaps multi-issue projects or other programs that can stand alone to serve as a conversation starter. Check out our previous post for more information!We are also currently recruiting community organizations to participate in the breakout sessions on Saturday, as presenters and moderators. Contact Heidi Hall for more information (206-658-2619, heidi@impactcapital.org).

As you know, the Puget Sound Equity Summit is drawing near, with only one month to go until the event on Nov 8-9 at the Highline Community College! We have some exciting plans for the Summit, and are hoping to include your amazing work in some of the different Summit happenings.

One piece of the puzzle for the Summit is the informal “Marketplace” which takes place on Friday evening Nov 8 from 5:00pm-6:30pm. (The opening program officially begins at 6:30pm). We envision the Marketplace as a place to facilitate networking, meet and interact with others from our region engaged in equity work and to exchange ideas or promote campaigns.

We’re hoping many of you will participate in the Marketplace by hosting a table to feature posters or displays on issues of equity you have worked on, perhaps multi-issue projects or other programs that can stand alone to serve as a conversation starter.

You can set up at 4:30pm on Friday. You do have to take down displays Friday night because the room will be in use the next day- however, any posters you have can remain on the walls on Saturday.

This is a great chance to promote your work and make much needed and important connections! For grantees, you may use part of your funds to prepare any materials you might want for the Marketplace. If there are other costs (printing, etc) that you cannot cover, please contact Aileen (information below) and we can see if there are partners that can help mitigate costs. We can provide the tables and chairs.

Please consider participating in the Marketplace! Let me know if you’d like us to save you a space by Monday October 28.

There’s no doubt about it – the Puget Sound is undergoing constant growth and many changes. Yet, how do we ensure that those who have been historically pushed out and left out of prosperity – people of color, low-income families, immigrants, and others – also have an opportunity to strive and thrive? How can we move closer for struggling communities to gain more accessible public transportation, affordable housing, and living wage jobs?

Community convenings leading up to the Summit will shape the agenda and help frame a broader conversation with policymakers, philanthropy, and other community stakeholders about what equity means for this region. The Summit will provide support for community convenings with funding through the Growing Transit Communities Equity Grant Program.

Community-based organizations can apply for up to $1,200 to convene their community and articulate key priorities and opportunities they wish to move forward and/or highlight at the Summit.